The deep passion and sheer joy for the history of Australian football in NSW was fully on display at the NSW Australian Football Heritage Association launch of its latest publication, the NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame at Sydney Swans HQ in Sydney on Tuesday, February 3.
The 100 page book includes a profile and image of all 100 inductees into AFL NSW’s inaugural Hall of Fame in 2024.
All the speakers on the panels channeled their love of the game and the pleasure they had derived from their active involvement in the game in NSW – ranging from John Longmire’s Origin heroics in the win over Victoria in 1990 to Yvette Andrew’s recounting of the struggle to get women’s football going in Sydney in 1999.
Neil Cordy MCd formalities, whose knowledge of the backgrounds of panel members was pivotal to providing a deeper insight into their stories and bringing out their contiguous connection to NSW football.
In launching the book, John Longmire praised the editorial team for their meticulous work in the preparation of the publication and how it had captured the essence of people’s involvement in the game in NSW.
John shared his own strong connections to NSW through his grandfather Walter who represented the state at the 1927 national carnival in Melbourne. Three generations of Longmires have subsequently played for NSW at school, youth and state level.
He recalled his debut for NSW at the first-ever State-of-Origin carnival in Adelaide in 1988 as a 17-year-old. He was a member of the team that beat Western Australia under All-Australian captain Terry Daniher.
When pressed for the reason for his incredible goalkicking accuracy of 91%, Black Diamond goalscoring machine Maurie Goolagong shared that it came from practicing after school every day on the Barellan Sportsground by aiming his kicks at each post from different angles.
The story of resilience and hard work were common denominators for ex-AFL players Brett Kirk (Swans) and Mark McVeigh (Essendon), now both assistant coaches at the Sydney Swans. Kirk only missed one game through injury in eighteen years of footy with North Albury, Swans Reserves, and Swans seniors. McVeigh went to Essendon from the Central Coast as a 17 year old after being drafted with pick 9 in the 1998 national draft.
Heritage Association benefactor John Livy, who donated the Bill Mohr medal for the leading goalkicker for a NSW player in the AFL each seasonm, presented a medal to Leon Cameron to pass onto Isaac Heeney who tied with Adelaide’s Taylor Walker on 37 goals a piece.
Tex’s father Wayne Walker, an inductee in the NSW Hall of Fame for his illustrious career in Broken Hill was on hand to collect the medal for his son.
The Carey Bunton medal for the best NSW player in the AFL in season 2025 donated by Heritage Association patron Richard Colless who was unable to attend was passed over to Leon Cameron by Football Awards chair Rod Gillett.
The book can be purchased from the Heritage Association for $50 including postage. Email admin@nswfootballhistory.com.au for more information.